Valmiki Ramayana 2.2.36: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 36

यौवराज्य-प्रस्तावः

Proposal for Rāma’s Installation as Heir-Apparent

Spoken by DasharathaSetting: Ayodhya (context of description); battlefield unspecifiedPlaces named: grāma (village), nagara (city)Campaign/defense sortie from the capital to protect village or city

Devanagari script

द्विजैरभिविनीतश्च श्रेष्ठैर्धर्मार्थनैपुणैः ।

यदा व्रजति सङ्ग्रामं ग्रामार्थे नगरस्य वा ॥३६॥

गत्वा सौमित्रिसहितो नाऽविजित्य निवर्तते ।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.2.36

Transliteration

dvijair abhivinītaś ca śreṣṭhair dharmārthanaipuṇaiḥ |

yadā vrajati saṅgrāmaṁ grāmārthe nagarasya vā ||36||

gatvā saumitrisahito nāvijitya nivartate |

Translation

ధర్మం, అర్థనీతిలో నైపుణ్యమున్న శ్రేష్ఠ ద్విజులచే ఆయన సువినీతుడుగా శిక్షణ పొందాడు. గ్రామం గానీ నగరం గానీ రక్షణార్థం యుద్ధానికి వెళ్తే, సౌమిత్రితో కలిసి వెళ్లి విజయం సాధించక తిరిగి రాడు।

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Word by Word

• dvijaiḥ: by brahmins
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)

• abhivinītaḥ: well-trained/instructed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi-√nī (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय
• Role: Sambandha (समुच्चय)

• śreṣṭhaiḥ: by the best
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)

• dharma-artha-naipuṇaiḥ: by those skilled in dharma and artha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + naipuṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (Dvandva; धर्मे च अर्थे च नैपुण्यम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)
• Compound: Dvandva

• yadā: when
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadā (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (temporal conjunction)
• Role: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)

• vrajati: goes/proceeds
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vraj (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• saṅgrāmam: to battle
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṅgrāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• grāma-arthe: for the sake of a village
• Type: Noun
• Root: grāma (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa; ग्रामस्य अर्थः), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन
• Role: Prayojana-adhikaraṇa (प्रयोजन-अधिकरण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• nagarasya: of a town
• Type: Noun
• Root: nagara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• vā: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)
• Role: Sambandha (विकल्प)

• gatvā: having gone
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल (prior action)
• Role: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)

• saumitri-sahitaḥ: accompanied by Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saumitri (प्रातिपदिक) + sahita (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa; सौमित्रिणा सहितः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• na: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)
• Role: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)

• avijitya: without conquering
• Type: Verb
• Root: a- + vi-√ji (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) with नञ् (negated): 'without conquering'
• Role: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)

• nivartate: returns
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√vṛt (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• dvijairabhivinītaśca = dvijaiḥ + abhivinītaḥ + ca
• śreṣṭhairdharmārtha- = śreṣṭhaiḥ + dharma-artha- (visarga before dh -> r)
• ikṣvākubhyō.pi-like in source: here nagarasya vā
• nā'vijitya = na + avijitya (vowel sandhi with avagraha)

Context

Whenever he, well-instructed in all matters by the best of brahmins well-versed in dharma and artha proceeds along with Lakshmana to wage a war for the sake of a village or a town, he never returns without conquering the enemy.

The teaching

Kṣatriya duty is protection of settlements; when guided by brāhmaṇa-trained dharma and artha, courage becomes reliable guardianship.

Ethical theme

Rāja-dharma/just war

Devotion and practice

Invokes Rāma as dharma-protector; supports bhāvanā of steadfastness and righteous effort alongside loyal companionship (Lakṣmaṇa-bhakti).

Deity praised

Rama

Form of praise

Stuti (a hymn of praise)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Martial, duty-bound, confident

Themes

• Dharma
• Kshatriya Dharma
• Protection of Subjects
• Artha
• Itihasa

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa (Saumitrī)
• brāhmaṇas

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Protection of people is dharma in action: learning from wise teachers must culminate in safeguarding villages and cities through courageous, effective defense.

What is the narrative situation?

The speaker highlights Rāma’s proven record in warfare undertaken for public security, emphasizing both training and results.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reliability in duty—he undertakes protective battle and returns only after fulfilling the objective (victory).